Clip.



No. 727,418. I PATENTED, MAY 5, 1903;

' L. G. MUNEAL.

CLIP.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: [N VEN TOR.

NlTED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

LUTHER C. MONEAL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW-YORK.

CLIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,418, dated May 5,1903.

Application filed August 4, 1902.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER C. MGNEAL, 0 Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Clips, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to clips for use in detachably holding invoices,letters, or other papers, and has for its object the production of adevice for the desired purpose which is particularly simple inconstruction and strong and durable in use; and to this end theinvention consists in the combination, construction, and arrangement ofthe component parts of a clip, as hereinafter fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

Clips heretofore made have been composed of a frame attached to abase-board, a clamping member, and a spring for holding them inoperative position. Said clamping member has been usually pivoted midwaybetween its front and rear edges to the stationary member, its rearwardextension forming a lever or handpiece. In operating such clips bothhands are needed in order to hold the base-board and at the same timepress upon the handpiece.

The chief features of my improvement are, first, it occupies less spaceupon a desk or table, because the usual rearward-extending part of theclamping member is omitted; second, it requires the use of only one handto operate, as any downward pressure upon the operating member tends tohold theplip more firmly on its support; third, it greatly facilitatesthe arranging, holding, and releasing of papers, because the clampingmember may be locked in its raised position, thus allowing the free useof both hands for such arranging; fourth, it is provided with a hangerby which it may be suspended, and the said hanger may readily be swungout of the way when the clip is used on a desk or table.

Other advantages and purposes of my invention will be more fully pointedout in the following description, in which reference is had to theaccompany drawings, forming part of this specification, in which likeletters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is Serial No. 118,295. (Nomodel.)

a plan View of my clip as applied to a baseboard or suitable support andshowing in dotted lines the position of the operating memher whendepressed to raise the clamping member. Fig. 2 is a perspective View ofthe same from the rear with part of the clamp broken away. Fig. 3 isacross-section on dotted line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing the clip in the openposition. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on dotted line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a perspective view from below of the operating member. Fig. 6 is atop View of a portion of the clamping member 0, showing the perforationthrough which the operating member moves.

My improved clip comprises a stationary member, of any suitable form,and a clamping mechanism for detachably securing papers or otherarticles to the same.

The parts of my clip may be composed ofany suitable material, but areusually stamped, bent, or formed from sheet metal with suitable dies.

The stationary member is usually composed of a base-board A and asheet-metal frame B, firmly attached thereto, but both these parts maybe of'sheet metal, integral, if desired. The frame B is preferablyconstructed as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and embodies a horizontal portion5 and a vertical flange b at its front edge and parts of same b formingguards for alining papers against. It is provided with the vertical earsb having perforations b for supporting the shaft G, and cars If, havingperforations b for supporting the shaft 1-1. At its rear edge are carsor brackets b, which support the pivotal ends e of a hanger E. The frontflange b is provided with downwardly projecting lugs b for indentinginto the face of the base-board A and preventing papers from slippingunder the frame 13.

The spring F may be made of any suitable form,-but is usually, as shownin Fig. 2, a coiled spring encircling the shaft G, with its centralportion f pressing against the ends 6 of the hanger E on the rear offrame B and its ends f pressing against the rear portion of the clampingmember 0. This causes the forward edge of the clamping member to bepressed downward firmly upon the papers or articles placed-onthebase-board beneath it.

The clamping member 0 is provided with ears 0, having perforations c forconnecting it pivotally with the ears 5 of the frame B.

It also has a perforation c throughwhich the operating member D passes,and a downwardly-turned flange 0 which forms a bearing-surface, the useof which will be fully explained hereinafter/ The operating member D isalever, having a handpiece d and the down wardly-projecting ears (Z 61and is pivotally attached to the ears 5 of the frame B by the shaft I-Ithrough perforations d d in the ears d d. One of the said perforations dis of oblong shape for the purpose of allowing a lateral movement to thehandpiece d of-the operating member D. It is also provided with a catch61 and a lug or cam d.

The hanger E is usually formed of a piece of wire bent into the shapeshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3. Its end portions 6 rest in brackets or ears I)and are embraced and pivotally held there by the portion fof the springF. This construction allows a limited rocking movement of the hangerwhile the pressure of the portionfof spring F holds it in either of itsadjusted positions, as shown in full and broken lines, Fig. 3.

The mode of operating my clip is as follows: The clamping member israised for the insertion or withdrawal of papers or other articles bypressing upon the handpiece d which causes the lever D to rock on itsshaft H and the lug or cam d to press against the bottom of flange c ofthe clamping member 0. This moves the clamping edge to its raisedposition and frees whatever may be held byit. When the pressure isremoved from the handpiece, the spring F causes the clamping member toresume its operative position. When it is desired to lock or latch theclamping member in its raised position for the easy arrangement ofletters or papers, it may be readily done by pressing the handpiece 01down to its lowest position and moving the same sidewise to the left, asindicated by broken lines in Fig. 1, which causes the catch at to engagethe lip c on the clamping member. This side movement of the catch d ispermitted-by the oblong shape of the perforation d in the ear (i In Fig.3 the broken lines d and 0 indicate the paths which are taken by theparts d and a when "the handpiece (1 is moved downward.

The construction and operation of my improved clip will now be readilyunderstood upon reference to the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawings.

It will be noted that the exact construction and arrangement of theparts may be more or less varied, as indicated herein, and consequentlyI do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement shown.

I claim as my invention 1. A paper-clip. comprising a stationary member,a clamping member, a supportingshaft therefor, a spring for holding saidclamping member in operative position, and an operating memberconsisting of a lever, pivoted in front of the shaft supporting theclamping member and swinging downward and forward for raising saidclamping member.

2. A paper-clip comprising a" stationary member, a clamping member, aspring for holding said clamping member in operative position, and anoperating member; said clamping and operating members being separatelypivoted to the stationary member and adapted to swing toward the frontof clip, the downward movement of the operating member causing theelevation of said clamping member.

3. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a clamping member, aspring for holding the clamping member in operative position and anoperating member consisting of a lever pivoted beneath the clampingmember and swinging toward the front of clip for raising the clampingmember.

4. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a clamping member, aspring for holding said clamping member in operative position, and anoperating member pivoted to the stationary member, said operating memberhaving a handpiece arranged above the clamping member adapted to swingdownward toward the front of clip, for raising said clamping member.

5. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a clamping member, aspring for holding said clamping member in operative position, and apivoted operating member swinging toward the front of clip; said clamping member being provided with a perforation for the passagetherethrough of the operating member, said operating member beingadapted to raise the clamping member when pressed downward and forward.

6. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a clamping member, aspring for holding said clamping member in operative position, anoperating member adapted to swing downward toward the front of clip forraising the clamping member, and means for locking said clamping memberin its inoperative position.

7. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a clamping member, aspring for operating sa'id clamping member, and a hanger held in placeon said stationary member by said spring.

8. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a clamping member, ashaft for said clamping member; a spring encircling the shaft to whichsaid stationary member and clamping member are pivoted, and a hangerheld in place on the stationary member by said spring.

9. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member, a spring-actuatedclamping member and a pivoted operating member swinging toward the frontof clip, for raising said clamping member; said operating member beingalso adapted to move sidewise and provided with a catch for locking saidclamping member in its inoperative position.

10. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; and a separate operatingmember having a forward movement toward the clamping member for raisingthe latter.

11. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; and a separate operatingmember having a forward movement toward the stationary member forraising the clamping member.

12. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a'olamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; a separate operatingmember having a forward movement toward the clamping member for raisingthe latter; and means for locking said clamping member in the raisedposition.

13. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to andfrom the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; a separate operatingmember having a forward movement toward the stationary member forraising the clamping member; and means for locking said clamping memberin the raised position.

14. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; a separate operatingmember having a forward movement toward the clamping member for raisingthe latter; and provided with means for locking said clamping member inthe raised position by an additional movement of said operating member.

15. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; a separate operatlngmember having a forward movement toward the stationary member forraising the clamping member, and provided with means for locking saidclamping member in the raised position by an additional movement of saidoperating member.

16. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; a separate operatlngmember having a forward movement toward the clamping member for raisingthe latter; and means for engaging said operating and said clampingmembers for-locking the clamping member in the raised position.

17. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping membermovable to and from the stationary member; a spring for pressing saidclamping member toward said stationary member; a separate operatingmember having a forward movement toward the stationary member forraising the clamping member; and means for engaging said operating andsaid clamping members for locking the clamping member in the raisedposition.

18. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping member; aspring for holding said clamping member in the clamping position; and anoperating member consisting of a lever pivoted independently of theclamping member and swinging toward said clam ping member for raisingthe latter.

19. A paper-clip comprising a stationary member; a clamping memberpivoted to said stationary member; a springfor holding said clampingmember in clamping position; a

separate operating member movable toward the clamping member for raisingthe latter, having a catch for engaging said clamping member andretaining the latter in the raised position.

LUTHER O. MCNEAL.

Witnesses:

ETTA A. EMENS, ARTHUR R. SELDEN.

